Key to the Prophetic Chart - centrowhite

1 Key to the Prophetic ChartUriah SmithWrite the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habbakuk ii, PRESSOF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION,BATTLE CREEK, TABLE OF INTRODUCTION - PROPHECY THE GREAT IMAGE OF DANIEL II THE FOUR BEASTS OF DANIEL VII THE RAM, GOAT, AND LITTLE HORN OF THE THREE ANGELS OF REVELATION XIV THE DRAGON AND BEASTS OF REV. XII & XIII THE THREE WOE TRUMPETS 42 INTRODUCTION - PROPHECYWHAT can be more natural than for man, as he looks forth upon a world where evil is everywhere present, and the marks of disorder and decay everywhere visible, to inquire whether or not this state of things shall always continue?

2 And id not, when it shall end, and what shall be the tokens of the auspicious day? What inquiry, then, can be of more interest and importance to the race than that which has respect to the age of the world in which we live? It would therefore be unreasonable to suppose that God would give a revelation to man, and yet leave him uninformed in respect to subjects of such absorbing interest. The declaration of the scripture is therefore in strict accordance with an enlightened reason, when it says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos iii, 7. The object of prophecy is to forewarn the world of things to come in time for the requisite preparation, and to inspire the people of God with fresh courage as they see the time for the full fruition of their hope drawing nigh.

3 No judgment has ever come upon the world unheralded; and none have ever fallen therein unwarned. And if from the uniform dealings of an unchangeable God with our world in the past, we4may judge of the future, then may we confidently conclude that of the events yet to transpire, and above all the great event in which earth's drama shall close - the ushering in of the great day of the Lord, and the coming of the Son of man, something will be known, and the world be faithfully warned thereof, ere they shall take place. In calling attention to these things we are sometimes accused of prying into the secrets of the Almighty. From this charge we want no better vindication than the language of Moses in Deut. xxix, 29: "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed, belong unto us and to our children forever.

4 " Prophecy belongs to that portion of the Bible which may properly be denominated a revelation. It is designed to reveal to us things of which we could not in any other way gain information. Again, we are met with the plea that the prophecies cannot be understood. But says the Saviour, referring directly to the prophecy of Daniel, "Whoso readeth let him understand." , 15. With this endorsement by our Saviour of our efforts to understand, with the declaration that the wise shall understand, Dan. xii, 10, and with the promise that if any man lack wisdom God will give liberally and upbraid not, if he will only ask of him, we are certain that the way is open for an understanding of these things before all those who are humble and teachable enough to ask and receive instruction of him through the medium of his word, and the agency of his Holy Spirit.

5 To deny that the prophecies can be understood, is to deny that a part of God's word is a revelation, which, so for, infidelity. That the Bible reveals the day or hour of Christ's5coming we do not pretend. But there are certain prophecies given, and signs foretold, which are to show us when the great day is at hand; and we are commanded, when we see these things come to pass, to know that it [margin, he, Christ] is near, even at the doors. Matt. xxiv, 33. And Paul gives assurance that Christians will possess a knowledge of these things when he says, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. v, 4. With these remarks we call the attention of the reader to the events and prediction recorded in Dan. ii, vii, viii, and ix, illustrated upon the Chart .

6 Efforts are occasionally made to throw ridicule upon these illustrations of the symbols of Daniel and John's visions. We are described as going about the country with our "pictures," lecturing upon "heads and horns;" and some in their disgusting efforts to be witty on the subject, will even go so far as to apply to these symbols the names of the lowest and most offensive animals. Such simple-minded individuals ought to know that they are thus in reality casting contumely and reproach upon the word of God; for all these things are plainly described. The illustrations upon the Chart are but the words of the prophet in another form. The figures are described on the sacred page as accurately and minutely as language can do it; on the Chart they are simply presented in their symbolic form, the inspired description being followed as closely as delineation of the pen can be illustrated with the pencil.

7 Hence those who endeavor to throw ridicule upon these things, we care not if they are arrayed in priestly robes, and have names cumbered with pompous titles, betray both ignorance and depravity, and the God6who inspired his prophets to write out these descriptions, will hold all who thus treat them to a strict account for their doings. The reader will understand at once that it is not the province of this work to give a dull exposition of all that is illustrated upon the Chart . What is here presented is designed to be but little more than a brief synopsis of the great historical facts shadowed forth by these symbols, reference being had for a full exposition to the works upon the Four Kingdoms of Daniel;s Prophecies, The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, The Sanctuary, and The Seven Trumpets. Now let the student place the Chart before him, just as he would his atlas in learning a lesson in geography, and, opening his Bible to a description of these symbols, proceed to consider the wonderful nature of some of the revelation of God to man.

8 THE GREAT IMAGE OF DANIEL IIIn the upper left-hand corner of the Chart stands a great image. Concerning this symbol, the time when, and the person by whom, it was seen, and the lessons of wisdom couched in its massive and majestic form, we read in full in Daniel, chapter ii. It was seen in a dream by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 603. But though the dream was given to a heathen king, the interpretation could come only through a servant of God; hence Daniel was called in to interpret the matter, the principal design of which is declared to be, to make known "what shall be in the latter days." Verse 28. THE HEAD OF GOLDThis image symbolizes four universal kingdoms which should bear rule over the earth, commencing with the then reigning kingdom of Babylon, and extending, in common phraseology, to the end of time.

9 These kingdom's are denoted by the different metals of which the image was composed, namely, gold, silver, brass, and iron. In his interpretation, the prophet addressing the king of Babylon, as a representative of his kingdom, said, "Thou art this head of gold." Verse 38. The head of gold, then, represents the kingdom of Babylon. Babylon was but a continuation of the old Assyrian empire which had governed Asia for more than thirteen hundred years, having been founded by Nimrod, the mighty hunter, and a great grandson of Noah. Gen. x, 10. The Kingdom of Babylon, proper, or as we read of it in scripture, dates from 747; but yet it dates in prophecy from 677. The reason of this is, because kingdoms are not recognized in the Prophetic record, as existing, until they become connected with the people of God.

10 Hence in prophecy, kingdoms must date from that point of time at which they began to act a part in the Prophetic drama. Babylon first became connected with the people of God by taking Manasseh, king of Judah, captive, 677. 2 Chron. xxxii. The date of Babylon, therefore, as represented by the head of gold, is 677. THE BREAST AND ARMS OF SILVER"And after thee," continued the prophet, "shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee." This kingdom must be symbolized by the breast and8arms of the image, which were of silver; for that kingdom represented by the gold must cease where the gold of the image ceases; and the division of brass which follows the silver, is expressly declared to be a third kingdom. It is the same therefore, as if it had said, After thee shall arise another kingdom which is symbolized by the breast and arms of this great image.